Abstract:

An electrical horn includes a horn housing, an oscillation member located
at the horn housing to generate a sonic wave, and a resonance tube in
which the sonic wave generated by the oscillation member flows. In the
electrical horn, the resonance tube has a plurality of sonic outlet
portions that are open in different directions. Accordingly, when the
electrical horn is mounted to a vehicle, it is possible to reduce an
amount of foreign material entering into the resonance tube while
increasing a sonic pressure toward a vehicle front side.

Claims:

1. An electrical horn comprising:a horn housing;an oscillation member
fixed to the horn housing to generate a sonic wave; anda resonance tube
in which the sonic wave generated by the oscillation member flows,wherein
the resonance tube has a plurality of sonic outlet portions that are open
in different directions.

2. The electrical horn according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
sonic outlet portions are two sonic outlet portions that are open
respectively in two wall surfaces of the resonance tube, facing in
different directions.

3. The electrical horn according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
sonic outlet portions is provided with plural openings.

4. The electrical horn according to claim 1, whereinthe oscillation member
is an oscillation plate member located between the horn housing and a
cover member that is spaced from the oscillation plate member to be
approximately parallel with the oscillation plate member,the resonance
tube includes a scroll portion defining a sonic passage between the cover
member and a parallel wall portion extending approximately in parallel
with the cover member, and a trumpet portion continuously extending from
the scroll portion to define the sonic passage,a passage sectional area
of the sonic passage of the scroll portion is gradually increased toward
downstream, and a passage sectional area of the sonic passage of the
trumpet portion is rapidly increased,the trumpet portion has an
orthogonal wall surface that extends from the parallel wall portion
approximately perpendicularly to a surface of the parallel wall portion
to define the sonic passage, andat least two of the sonic outlet portions
are open in the trumpet portion to face in different directions.

5. The electrical horn according to claim 4, wherein one of the sonic
outlet portions is open at a tip end of the trumpet portion, and the
other one of the sonic outlet portions is open in the orthogonal wall
surface, the electrical horn further comprisinga shielding plate located
to cover a part of the one sonic outlet portion provided at the tip end
of the trumpet portion.

6. The electronic horn according to claim 5, wherein the shielding plate
covers a part of the one sonic outlet portion at the tip end of the
trumpet portion, on a side near the sonic outlet portion provided in the
orthogonal wall surface.

7. The electrical horn according to claim 4, whereina tip end of the
trumpet portion is fully closed, andone of the sonic outlet portions is
open in the orthogonal wall surface of the trumpet portion, and the other
one of the sonic outlet portions is open in a wall surface of the trumpet
portion, other than the orthogonal wall surface.

8. The electrical horn according to claim 4, wherein the resonance tube
includes a protruding wall part protruding from the parallel wall portion
approximately perpendicularly to a surface of the parallel wall portion
to be opposite to the orthogonal wall surface.

9. The electrical horn according to claim 8, whereinthe orthogonal wall
surface is provided in a part of the parallel wall portion such that a
protruding dimension protruding from the parallel wall portion is
gradually increased as toward a tip end of the trumpet portion in a first
circumferential direction, andthe protruding wall part is provided in a
part of the parallel wall portion such that a protruding dimension
protruding from the parallel wall portion is gradually increased as
toward the tip end of the trumpet portion in a second circumferential
direction opposite to the first circumferential direction.

10. The electrical horn according to claim 4, whereinthe trumpet portion
includes a cover part that protrudes from a wall surface approximately
perpendicular to the orthogonal wall surface and covers a part of the
parallel wall portion.

11. The electrical horn according to claim 10, wherein the orthogonal wall
surface and the cover part are configured together with the parallel wall
portion to define an opening.

12. The electrical horn according to claim 11, whereinthe resonance tube
includes a protruding wall part protruding from the parallel wall portion
approximately perpendicularly to a surface of the parallel wall portion
to be opposite to the orthogonal wall surface, andthe cover part and
protruding wall part define an opening that is larger than an open area
of the sonic outlet portion provided in the orthogonal wall surface.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2008-291202 filed on Nov. 13, 2008; the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]The present invention relates to an electrical horn (e.g., a warning
horn) used for a vehicle such as an automobile, a bus, a truck or the
like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]Generally, a horn for a vehicle is provided with a scroll-type or a
trumpet-type resonance tube.

[0004]For example, in an electrical horn, an oscillation plate oscillates
by a solenoid force to generate a sonic wave for oscillating air, and the
sonic wave is amplified in a resonance tube. That is, the air oscillation
generated by the oscillation plate is transmitted to an exterior of the
electrical horn through a sonic passage inside the resonance tube. The
resonance tube is a scroll-type resonance tube or a trumpet-type
resonance tube, which has an open end portion used as a sonic outlet
portion.

[0005]The electrical horn is generally attached to a vehicle such that the
sonic outlet portion is open toward downwardly, so as to restrict foreign
material such as water from entering into the resonance tube from the
sonic outlet portion. When the sonic outlet portion is open toward
downwardly, a sonic pressure toward a vehicle front side is reduced.
Furthermore, even if the sonic outlet portion is open toward downwardly,
droplet in vehicle running or water in vehicle washing may be entered
into the resonance tube from the sonic outlet portion and may stay in the
resonance tube.

[0006]JP 2008-89627A proposes an electrical horn configured to reduce the
foreign material flowing therein. The electrical horn includes a
reflection member configured by a back plate and a bottom plate. The back
plate has a through hole and extends to a bottom side of the sonic outlet
portion, and the bottom plate extends from the back plate to the vehicle
front side, in the reflection member.

[0007]In the electrical horn described in JP 2008-89627A, foreign
materials flying from the front side moves to the rear side after passing
through the through hole of the back plate, and thereby it is necessary
to make the through hole to be larger in order to reduce the foreign
material staying in the electrical horn. In contrast, the through hole of
the back plate needs to be smaller in order to increase the sonic
pressure, toward the vehicle front side. That is, the dimension of the
through hole has a trade-off relation between an increase of the sonic
pressure and a reduction of the foreign material. Therefore, it is
difficult to increase the sonic pressure while effectively reducing the
foreign material entering into a resonance tube of the electrical horn.
Furthermore, the foreign material entering the resonance tube from the
sonic outlet portion may flow deeply into the resonance tube. In
addition, because the reflection member protrudes downwardly from the
sonic outlet portion, the outer dimension of the electrical horn may
become larger, and the electrical horn may be difficult to be mounted to
a vehicle having a small mounting dimension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008]In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an electrical horn having at least two sonic outlet
portions.

[0009]It is another object of the present invention to provide an
electrical horn for a vehicle, which can reduce an amount of foreign
material entering into a resonance tube while increasing a sonic pressure
toward a vehicle front side, when the electrical horn is mounted to the
vehicle.

[0010]According to an aspect of the present invention, an electrical horn
includes a horn housing, an oscillation member located at the horn
housing to generate a sonic wave, and a resonance tube in which the sonic
wave generated by the oscillation member flows. In the electrical horn,
the resonance tube has a plurality of sonic outlet portions that are open
in different directions. Accordingly, when the electrical horn is mounted
to a vehicle, it is possible to reduce an amount of foreign material
entering into the resonance tube while increasing a sonic pressure toward
a vehicle front side.

[0011]For example, the plurality of sonic outlet portions may be two sonic
outlet portions that are open respectively in two wall surfaces of the
resonance tube, facing in different directions. Furthermore, at least one
of the sonic outlet portions may be provided with plural openings.

[0012]The oscillation member may be an oscillation plate member located
between the horn housing and a cover member that is spaced from the
oscillation plate member to be approximately parallel with the
oscillation plate member. Furthermore, the resonance tube may include a
scroll portion defining a sonic passage between the cover member and a
parallel wall portion extending approximately in parallel with the cover
member, and a trumpet portion continuously extending from the scroll
portion to define the sonic passage. In this case, a passage sectional
area of the sonic passage of the scroll portion is gradually increased
toward downstream, and a passage sectional area of the sonic passage of
the trumpet portion is rapidly increased. Furthermore, the trumpet
portion has an orthogonal wall surface that extends from the parallel
wall portion approximately perpendicularly to a surface of the parallel
wall portion to define the sonic passage, and at least two of the sonic
outlet portions are open in the trumpet portion to face in different
directions.

[0013]For example, one of the sonic outlet portions may be open at a tip
end of the trumpet portion, and the other one of the sonic outlet
portions may be open in the orthogonal wall surface. In this case, the
electrical horn may include a shielding plate located to cover a part of
the one sonic outlet portion provided at the tip end of the trumpet
portion. Furthermore, the shielding plate may cover a part of the one
sonic outlet portion at the tip end of the trumpet portion, on a side
near the sonic outlet portion provided in the orthogonal wall surface.

[0014]Alternatively, a tip end of the trumpet portion may be fully closed.
In this case, one of the sonic outlet portions may be open in the
orthogonal wall surface of the trumpet portion, and the other one of the
sonic outlet portions may be open in a wall surface of the trumpet
portion, other than the orthogonal wall surface.

[0015]The resonance tube may further include a protruding wall part
protruding from the parallel wall portion approximately perpendicularly
to a surface of the parallel wall portion to be opposite to the
orthogonal wall surface.

[0016]The orthogonal wall surface may be provided in a part of the
parallel wall portion such that a protruding dimension protruding from
the parallel wall portion is gradually increased as toward a tip end of
the trumpet portion in a first circumferential direction. Furthermore,
the protruding wall part may be provided in a part of the parallel wall
portion such that a protruding dimension protruding from the parallel
wall portion is gradually increased as toward the tip end of the trumpet
portion in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first
circumferential direction.

[0017]Furthermore, the trumpet portion may include a cover part that
protrudes from a wall surface approximately perpendicular to the
orthogonal wall surface and covers a part of the parallel wall portion.
In addition, the orthogonal wall surface and the cover part may be
configured together with the parallel wall portion to define an opening.

[0018]Alternatively, the resonance tube may include a protruding wall part
protruding from the parallel wall portion approximately perpendicularly
to a surface of the parallel wall portion to be opposite to the
orthogonal wall surface, and the cover part and protruding wall part may
define an opening that is larger than an open area of the sonic outlet
portion provided in the orthogonal wall surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be
more readily apparent from the following detailed description of
preferred embodiments when taken together with the accompanying drawings.
In which:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an electrical
horn according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a side view, showing the
electrical horn shown in FIG. 1, in a state mounted to a front grill of a
vehicle;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 2;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of an
electrical horn according to the first embodiment;

[0024]FIGS. 5A and 5B are a front view and a side view showing the
electrical horn shown in FIG. 4, in a state mounted to a front grill of a
vehicle;

[0025]FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and a side view showing
another example of an electrical horn according to the first embodiment;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of an
electrical horn according to the first embodiment;

[0027]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another example of an
electrical horn according to the first embodiment;

[0028]FIGS. 9A and 9B are a perspective view and a front view showing an
electrical horn according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;

[0029]FIGS. 10A and 10B are a perspective view and a front view showing
another example of an electrical horn according to the second embodiment
of the present invention;

[0030]FIGS. 11A and 11B are a perspective view and a front view showing an
electrical horn according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
and

[0031]FIGS. 12A and 12B are a perspective view and a front view showing an
electrical horn according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032]Embodiments and modifications of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

[0033]A first embodiment and modifications thereof according to the
present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0034]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an electrical
horn 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS.
2A and 2B are a front view and a side view showing the electrical horn 1
shown in FIG. 1 in a state mounted to a front grill of a vehicle, and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 2A.

[0035]The electrical horn 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a horn housing
10, an oscillation member 11 fixed to the horn housing 10 to generate a
sonic wave, and a resonance tube 25 connected to the horn housing 10 to
enclose the oscillation member 11. The resonance tube 25 is provided with
a sonic inlet portion 25a, and two sonic outlet portions 25b, 25c. As
shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the two sonic outlet portions 25b, 25c have
open surfaces facing toward two different directions. That is, the sonic
outlet portions 25b, 25c are open toward in two different directions. In
FIGS. 2A and 2B, GL indicates a ground line (ground surface) when the
electrical horn 1 is mounted to a vehicle. In the example of FIGS. 2A and
2B, the sonic outlet portion 25b is open toward downwardly, and the sonic
outlet portion 25c is open toward a vehicle side substantially
perpendicular to the open direction of the sonic outlet portion 25b.

[0036]An electromagnet 12 configured to generate an electromagnetic force
and to oscillate the oscillation member 11, a fixed core 21 and the like
are accommodated in the horn housing 10. A stay 22 is fixed to the horn
housing 10, and the horn housing 10 is fixed to a vehicle (not shown) by
using the stay 22.

[0037]The electromagnet 12 is provided with a coil 14 wound a bobbin 13,
and a lower portion of a movable core 15 is located in a center hole
portion of the bobbin 13. A center portion of the oscillation member 11
is fastened to an upper portion of the movable core 15, and an outer
peripheral portion of the oscillation member 11 is wound to and fastened
to an outer peripheral end portion of the horn housing 10.

[0038]The cover member 25d is spaced from the oscillation member 11 and is
arranged approximately in parallel with the oscillation member 11 at a
side opposite to the horn housing 10 with respect to the oscillation
member 11. The outer peripheral end portion of the cover member 25d is
wound and fastened to the outer peripheral end portion of the horn
housing 10 to be overlapped with the outer peripheral end portion of the
oscillation member 11 and the outer peripheral end portion of the horn
housing 10. That is, the outer peripheral end portion of the cover member
25d is bent to have a recess portion, and the outer peripheral end
portions of the oscillation member 11 and the horn housing 10 are
inserted into the recess portion to be fastened and fixed to the outer
peripheral end portion of the cover member 25d. The sonic inlet portion
25a is provided at a center area of the cover member 25d.

[0039]The resonance tube 25 includes a scroll portion 25h defining therein
a scroll sonic passage 25g. The scroll sonic passage 25g is formed
between the cover member 25d and a parallel wall portion 25e extending
approximately in parallel with the cover member 25d, such that a passage
sectional area 25f (e.g., rectangular sectional area) is gradually
increased in the scroll sonic passage 25g. A trumpet portion 25j is
provided integrally with the scroll portion 25h such that the passage
sectional area 25f is rapidly increased in the trumpet portion 25j as
toward the sonic outlet portion 25b. The trumpet portion 25j includes an
orthogonal wall surface 25i for defining the sonic passage 25g, and the
orthogonal wall surface 25i is provided to protrude approximately
perpendicularly from a surface of the parallel wall portion 25e. That is,
the trumpet portion 25j is integrally provided with the scroll portion
25h to continuously define the sonic passage 25g in the resonance tube
25.

[0040]The sonic outlet portion 25b is fully opened at a tip end portion of
the trumpet portion. In contrast, the sonic outlet portion 25c is
provided in the orthogonal wall surface 25i that protrudes approximately
perpendicularly from the parallel wall portion 25e, at a position close
to the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j.

[0041]In the example of the electrical horn 1 having the above-described
structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a sonic wave (i.e., air oscillation)
transmitted from the sonic inlet portion 25a is amplified while passing
through the sonic passage 25g, and is exited from the sonic outlet
portions 25b, 25c. Generally, the electrical horn 1 is mounted to a
vehicle in a state shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The sonic outlet portion 25b
opened at the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j faces toward
downwardly (i.e., the ground surface GL), and the parallel wall portion
25e faces toward the vehicle front side. Therefore, the sonic outlet
portion 25c is open toward a vehicle side, as shown in FIG. 2B. Thus,
both the sonic outlet portion 25b and the sonic outlet portion 25c are
not open toward the vehicle front side, thereby preventing foreign
materials from directly flying into the sonic outlet portions 25b and 25c
from the vehicle front side.

[0042]Because the parallel wall portion 25e is provided to face toward the
vehicle front side, a part of the sonic wave flowing out of the sonic
outlet portion 25c is reflected by the parallel wall portion 25e toward
the vehicle front side, thereby increasing the sonic pressure toward the
vehicle front side. In the example of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the sonic outlet
portion 25b is open toward downwardly, and the sonic outlet portion 25c
is open toward a vehicle side in a vehicle right-left direction.

[0043]Foreign material entering from the sonic outlet portion 25b can be
discharged from the sonic outlet portion 25c to an exterior of the
resonance tube 25, thereby effectively reducing the foreign material
staying in the resonance tube 25. Similarly, foreign material entering
from the sonic outlet portion 25c can be discharged from the sonic outlet
portion 25b to the exterior of the resonance tube 25, thereby effectively
reducing the foreign material staying in the resonance tube 25.

[0044]The electrical horn 1 according to the first embodiment is not
limited to the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and can be suitably
modified. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the sonic outlet portion
25c may be provided in a wall surface that defines the sonic passage 25g
of the trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle side in the vehicle
left-right direction. Alternatively, in the example of FIG. 1, the sonic
outlet portion 25c may be provided in a wall surface that defines the
sonic passage 25g of the trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle
rear side. Alternatively, in the example of FIG. 1, the sonic outlet
portion 25c may be provided in a wall surface that defines the sonic
passage 25g of the trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle front
side.

[0045]FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B show another example of an electrical horn 1 of
the first embodiment, in which a part of the sonic outlet portion 25b
provided at the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j is closed by a
shielding plate 25k. In the example of FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, a right half
area of the sonic outlet portion 26b at the tip end portion of the
trumpet portion 25j, at a side near the sonic outlet portion 25c, is
closed by the shielding plate 25k. Therefore, the sonic wave reflected by
the shielding plate 25k can effectively flow out of the sonic outlet
portion 25c. Thus, a part of the sonic wave flowing out of the sonic
outlet portion 25c is reflected by the parallel wall portion 25e toward
the vehicle front side, thereby further improving the sonic pressure
toward the vehicle front direction.

[0046]FIGS. 6A and 6B show another example of an electrical horn 1A of the
first embodiment, in which a plurality of sonic outlet portions 25b and a
plurality of sonic outlet portions 25c are respectively opened. In this
case, the amount of foreign material flowing into the resonance tube 25
from the sonic outlet portions 25b and 25c can be further reduced.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6A, the shielding plate 25k can be provided
to close a part of the sonic outlet portions 25b at the tip end portion
of the trumpet portion 25j. Therefore, the amount of foreign material
flowing into the resonance tube 25 from the sonic outlet portions 25b can
be more effectively reduced.

[0047]FIG. 7 shows another example of an electrical horn 1B of the first
embodiment, in which the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j,
generally used as a sonic outlet portion, is completely closed by a
shielding plate 25k. In the example of the electrical horn 1B shown in
FIG. 7, the sonic outlet portion 25b is provided in a wall surface that
defines the sonic passage 25g of the trumpet 25j and faces toward a
vehicle rear side, and the sonic outlet portion 25c is provided in the
wall surface that defines the sonic passage 25g of the trumpet 25j and
faces toward a vehicle side in the vehicle left-right direction. In this
case, because the sonic outlet portions 25b and 25c are open in the
vehicle rear direction and the vehicle side direction which are different
from each other, thereby improving the sonic pressure in the vehicle
front direction and reducing the amount of the foreign material entering
the resonance tube 25.

[0048]FIG. 8 shows another example of an electrical horn 1B of the first
embodiment, in which the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j,
generally used as a sonic outlet portion, is completely closed by a
shielding plate 25k. In the example of the electrical horn 1B of FIG. 8,
a sonic outlet portion 25b is provided in a wall surface that defines the
sonic passage 25g of the trumpet 25j and faces toward a vehicle side in
the vehicle left-right direction, and the sonic outlet portion 25c is
provided in the wall surface that defines the sonic passage 25g of the
trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle side opposite to the sonic
outlet portion 25b in the vehicle left-right direction. That is, the
sonic outlet portions 25b and 25c are provided in the wall surfaces of
the trumpet portion 25j to be opposite to each other. In this case, the
sonic outlet portions 25b and 25c are open in the vehicle left and right
directions which are different from each other, thereby improving the
sonic pressure in the vehicle front side and reducing the amount of the
foreign material entering the resonance tube 25.

[0049]In the example of FIG. 7, the sonic outlet portion 25b may be
provided in a wall surface facing toward a vehicle front side, in the
wall surface defining the sonic passage 25g of the trumpet portion 25j.

[0050]Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 7, the sonic outlet portion 25c
may be provided in a wall surface that defines the sonic passage 25g of
the trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle side in the vehicle
left-right direction. Alternatively, in the example of FIG. 7, the sonic
outlet portion 25c may be provided in a wall surface that defines the
sonic passage 25g of the trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle
rear side. Alternatively, in the example of FIG. 7, the sonic outlet
portion 25c may be provided in a wall surface that defines the sonic
passage 25g of the trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle front
side.

[0051]In the example of FIG. 8, the sonic outlet portion 25c may be
provided in a wall surface that defines the sonic passage 25g of the
trumpet portion 25j and faces toward a vehicle front side.

Second Embodiment

[0052]A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 9A to 10B. In the second embodiment and modifications
thereof, the parts having functions similar to or corresponding to those
of the electrical horn in the above-described first embodiment are
indicated by the same reference numbers, and the detail explanation
thereof is omitted.

[0053]FIGS. 9A and 9B show an example of an electrical horn 1C of the
second embodiment, in which a wall part 25m protruding from the parallel
wall portion 25e is provided. The wall part 25m is arranged, such that a
lower portion of the wall part 25m is wound on an outer peripheral
surface of a part of the parallel wall portion 25e and an upper portion
of the wall part 25m protrudes from the parallel wall portion 25e to the
vehicle front side. The protruding dimension of the wall part 25m is
gradually increased toward the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j
in a circumferential direction, opposite to the orthogonal wall surface
25i. One side end portion of the wall part 25m having the largest
protruding dimension is fixed to an end portion of the trumpet portion
25j with the largest protruding dimension of the orthogonal wall surface
25i, and the other side end portion of the trumpet portion 25j is fixed
to an outside of a wall surface of the trumpet portion 25j at a position
opposite to the orthogonal wall surface 25i, near a protruding start of
the orthogonal wall surface 25i. That is, the protruding dimension of the
wall portion 25m is gradually increased toward the tip end portion of the
trumpet portion 25j in a first circumferential direction on a part of the
parallel wall portion 25e, and the protruding dimension of the orthogonal
wall surface 25i is gradually increased toward the tip end portion of the
trumpet portion 25j in a second circumferential direction opposite to the
first circumferential direction on another part of the parallel wall
portion 25e.

[0054]In the electrical horn 1C of the second embodiment, because the wall
part 25m protruding from the parallel wall portion 25e toward the vehicle
front side is provided, the foreign material entering from the sonic
outlet portion 25c can be reduced by the wall part 25m. Furthermore,
because the wall part 25m protrudes from the parallel wall portion 25e,
the sonic wave flowing out of the sonic outlet portion 25c can be
reflected by the wall part 25m, thereby further increasing the sonic
pressure in the vehicle front direction.

[0055]In the example of the electrical horn 1C shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B,
the shielding plate 25k is provided to close a part of the sonic outlet
portion 25b at the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j. However,
in the example of the electrical horn 1C, the shielding plate 25k may be
not provided.

[0056]FIGS. 10A and 10B show another example of an electrical horn 1D
according to the second embodiment. In the electrical horn 1D shown in
FIGS. 10A and 10B, a wall part 25n protrudes approximately from an outer
surface of the parallel wall portion 25e toward a vehicle front side
approximately at a center portion. The wall part 25n has the same
protruding dimension in the entire length of the wall part 25n, and the
protruding dimension of the wall part 25n is approximately equal to the
largest protruding dimension of the orthogonal wall surface 25i. One side
end portion of the wall part 25n is fixed to the end portion of the
orthogonal wall surface 25i having the largest protruding dimension, and
the other side end portion of the wall part 25n is fixed to the parallel
wall portion 25e. The protruding dimension of the wall part 25n may be
set different from the largest protruding dimension of the orthogonal
wall surface 25i, and the extending direction of the wall part 25n may be
different from the example of the FIGS. 10A and 10B.

[0057]Because the wall part 25n is provided to face the sonic outlet
portion 25c and extends to pass the center position of the parallel wall
portion 25e, a distance between the wall part 25n and the sonic outlet
portion 25c can be made shorter. Accordingly, the sonic wave discharged
from the sonic outlet portion 25c can be reflected by the wall part 25n,
thereby increasing the sonic pressure toward the vehicle front side.
Furthermore, foreign material introduced from the sonic outlet portion
25c can be reduced by the wall part 25n.

Third Embodiment

[0058]A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B. In the third embodiment and modifications
thereof, the parts having functions similar to or corresponding to those
of the electrical horn in the above-described embodiments are indicated
by the same reference numbers, and the detail explanation thereof is
omitted.

[0059]FIGS. 11A and 11B show an example of an electrical horn 1E of the
third embodiment, in which a cover part 25p is provided to cover a part
of a front side of the parallel wall portion 25e. As shown in FIGS. 11A
and 11B, the cover part 25p protrudes from a wall surface 25q of the
trumpet portion 25j approximately in parallel with the wall surface 25q.
The wall surface 25q protrudes in the trumpet portion 25j to face the
vehicle front side, and is approximately perpendicular to the orthogonal
wall surface 25i.

[0060]In the electrical horn 1E of the example of FIGS. 11A and 11B, the
cover part 25p protrudes from the wall surface 25q of the trumpet portion
25j and covers a part of the front surface of the trumpet portion 25j.
Therefore, the foreign material entering from the sonic outlet portion
25c that is open toward the vehicle side can be reduced. Furthermore, the
cover part 25p, the parallel wall portion 25e and the orthogonal wall
surface 25i are configured to form approximately a triangular opening EFG
open toward a vehicle side in the vehicle right-left direction.
Therefore, the sonic wave flowing out of the sonic outlet portion 25c is
amplified and then flows out of the triangular opening EFG toward the
vehicle front side.

[0061]In the example of the electrical horn 1E shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B,
the shielding plate 25k is provided to close a part of the sonic outlet
portion 25b at the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j. However,
in the example of the electrical horn 1E, the shielding plate 25k may be
not provided.

Fourth Embodiment

[0062]A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. In the fourth embodiment and
modifications thereof, the parts having functions similar to or
corresponding to those of the electrical horn in the above-described
embodiments are indicated by the same reference numbers, and the detail
explanation thereof is omitted.

[0063]FIGS. 12A and 12B show an example of an electrical horn 1F of the
fourth embodiment, in which the cover part 25p is provided to cover a
part of the front side of the parallel wall portion 25e so as to form a
triangular opening by the cover part 25p, the parallel wall portion 25e
and the orthogonal wall surface 25i, similarly to the above-described
third embodiment. Furthermore, the electrical horn 1F is provided with
the wall part 25m, similarly to the example of FIGS. 9A and 9B.

[0064]In the example of the electrical horn 1F, because the wall part 25m
and the cover part 25p are provided, foreign material entering into the
resonance tube 25 from the sonic outlet portion 25c can be reduced.
Furthermore, because a semicircular opening is formed by a straight end
portion EF of the cover part 25p and a semicircular end portion EF of the
wall part 25m, and is larger than the opening of the sonic outlet portion
25c. Thus, the sonic wave flowing out of the sonic outlet portion 25c is
amplified and then flows out of the semicircular opening toward the
vehicle front side. Accordingly, the sonic pressure toward the vehicle
front side can be further increased.

[0065]In the example of the electrical horn 1F shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B,
the shielding plate 25k is provided to close a part of the sonic outlet
portion 25b at the tip end portion of the trumpet portion 25j. However,
in the example of the electrical horn 1E, the shielding plate 25k may be
not provided.

[0066]Although the present invention has been fully described in
connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and
modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0067]For example, in the above-described embodiments and modification
thereof, at least two examples may be suitably combined when there are no
a contradiction.

[0068]In the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof, the
two sonic outlet portions 25b and 25c are provided in the resonance tube
25 to be open in different directions. However, a plurality of the sonic
outlet portions more than two may be provided in the resonance tube 25
such that at least two of the sonic outlet portions are open in different
directions. For example, the sonic outlet portion 25b is provided at the
tip end portion of the resonance tube 25 (trumpet portion 25j), and the
sonic outlet portions 25c can be provided at wall surfaces of the
resonance tube 25, facing in different directions.

[0069]In an electrical horn that includes a horn housing (10), an
oscillation member (11) fixed to the horn housing (10, 25) to generate a
sonic wave and a resonance tube (25) for resonance of the generated sonic
wave, when the resonance tube (25) has plural sonic outlets (25b, 25c)
opened in different directions, the other structures and shapes of the
electrical horn can be suitably changed.

[0070]Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being within
the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.